JFCS Immigration Legal Services

Immigrants come to Pittsburgh from all over the world, seeking a better life for their families and/or fleeing persecution and violence. However, navigating the myriad of local, state and federal immigration laws carries tremendous uncertainty, challenges and expense. As a JFCS employee, you can help stabilize the pathway to citizenship for immigrants.

The team at JFCS provides pro-bono legal services to immigrants to successfully navigate our complicated immigration system and eventually become US citizens. JFCS Immigration Legal Services works holistically with all other departments in the agency to ensure that people who are struggling get the range of assistance they need.

Position Summary:

Works directly with detained unaccompanied children brought to this region from the southern border to provide Know Your Rights presentations and preliminary legal intake screenings to help attorneys determine relief options for the children. Works with attorneys to determine relief and communicate with the children. The position requires travel to the facilities in Western Pennsylvania and other locations within a few hours driving time.

Why you should apply

Every month immigrant children arrive in Pittsburgh after coming to our country without legal guardians. These children are placed in shelters where a plan can be made for either legally remaining in the United States or returning back to their country of origin. The paralegal is key in helping the children achieve these goals and is a face of compassion and hope in the chaos of their environment.

JFCS Pittsburgh

In today’s world, it is important that your life’s work brings you value and purpose. By joining the team at JFCS, you will experience hands-on opportunities that directly help people in the Greater Pittsburgh region through life’s changes and challenges.

Proudly voted by JFCS employees as one of Pittsburgh’s best places to work for +10 years, our care and commitment to our employees and our clients is our top priority. We are looking for new employees who share our commitment to providing critical, high quality services to the community.

Benefits:

• Collaborative work environment and diverse staff
• 37.5 hours work week with flexible scheduling to support work-life balance
• Hybrid work model (part of the week in office, part remote)
• Sick Time = 12 days a year
• Vacation Time = starts at 2 weeks the first year and then increases with longevity up to 4 weeks total
• Additional paid time off for all employees = most federal holidays, 3-5 floating holidays (to be used at employee’s discretion), and a number of Jewish holidays
• Comprehensive health insurance - medical, dental and vision
• Short and long term disability, life insurance and a 401k package for which JFCS contributes 4% of salary after the first year of service
• Annual longevity bonuses after the first year of service

Qualifications:

Bilingual in Spanish and English required. Excellent written and oral communication skills required. Be alert to cross-cultural interference in dealing with clients and be culturally sensitive. Two years’ experience working in the legal field is helpful. Experience working with children and sensitivity to the needs of victims of trauma is essential.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Travel to detention facilities to provide Know Your Rights presentations to unaccompanied children.

• Provide initial legal screening to unaccompanied children and review with attorneys to help determine appropriate relief options.

• Act as a point of contact with the shelter staff to arrange for scheduling and obtaining requisite information.

• Be responsible for timely reporting and managing data in the database as required under the contract.

• Work under attorney direction to assist unaccompanied children to complete forms, draft affidavits and prepare for court.

• Maintain client immigration files, both paper and electronic files to ensure they are complete and up-to-date.

• Clear, professional and appropriate communication with clients, staff and U.S. government officials.

• Participate in staff development and training opportunities provided by JFCS in order to stay abreast of changes and best practices.

• Enter and submit timesheets in a timely manner (weekly).

• Attend all department meetings, attend other meetings and trainings as required.

• Assume other responsibilities as assigned.